Do This: National Cheat Day
Datz in South Tampa wants you to indulge, proclaiming Thursday to be National Cheat Day.
Spring Arts Preview: Don’t miss Histórias/Histories: Contemporary Art from Brazil
The compellingly eclectic new show opens Fri., Jan. 18.
Do This: Your weekend, ready to go
Friday, you know how to charm a girl.
CL Writing Contest: Fiction, poetry, and the theme is…
The Creative Loafing Writing Contest is back! And this year we're going Green. Yes, 'Green' is this year's theme — whatever that conjures up for you, whether it's money, grass, Al Gore, youth, envy, nausea, creme de menthe, leprechauns. The possibilities are endless. OK, maybe not leprechauns. Yes, the winning entries will be published on…
Transforming Tampa Bay: Blight vs. balance
Eager investors have truly discovered Tampa Bay, and construction cranes abound. Will the new buildings play nicely with existing streetscapes or overwhelm them? In the urban cores of both downtown St. Pete and Tampa, there’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on. Generally, there’s a push-me/pull-you attitude amongst folks who are already invested in a…
Your handy-dandy election year calendar: Important 2016 dates to know and why
Given how bizarre national politics have been over the past six months or so, odds are the run-up to November 8, 2016, will be a hell of a romp. In December, as part of our Year in Lists, we set out a (very satirical) timeline predicting which presidential candidates would drop out, and when. Now…
Sponsored Content: Veg Out! in Tampa next weekend
On Jan. 23, dig into the vegan and vegetarian celebration that is CL’s Veg Out! event.
Theater Review: Go West, then go further
A likable production of Sam Shepard’s most accessible play at Tampa Rep.
Sh*t happened 1/14/16: Seriously Tampa, you couldn’t hire a local firm to do your website?
Welcome to Thursday. It's almost Friday! As you'll see below, the city of Tampa had a Palm Beach firm redesign its website rather than hiring somebody local, and keeping its money in the region. Make of that what you will; I did. A St. Pete judge denied big-city Manhattan news-and-gossip site Gawker's motion to dismiss…
Creating Pinellas: The new director of the county’s arts agency sees it as a catalyst
Cold, hard numbers don’t mix very well with the flood of emotions triggered by a mural or a piece of music. That’s why turning such intangibles into line items on a county budget can be tricky. In Pinellas County, Barbara St. Clair is the person responsible for doing just that. As the new executive director…
Spring Arts Preview 2016: Visual arts
A bevy of beautiful shows, exhibits and more is headed our way.
Spring Arts Preview 2016: Theater
There’s a lot to look forward to in Tampa Bay stage productions.
Spring Arts Preview 2016: Pinellas Park’s street of dreams
The Pinellas city deepens its investment in a new creative district.
Uber drivers to protest ride rates in Tampa Thursday
Drivers for ride-sharing service Uber are planning on protesting the company's cutting of mileage rates down to, critics claim, barely over one-third of the rate it charged when the service debuted in the Tampa Bay area. According to a media release, the per-mile rate the company charged riders in the Tampa Bay area prior to…
Reasons to binge watch: Jan. 14-17
Binge watching made even easier.
The Laugh Tract — Who’s Bringing the Funny
Is your mind on something other than comedy this week? Maybe you have dreams of being a billionaire, so you're going all in on Powerball. Or maybe you're a football fan enjoying the slow run to the Super Bowl. Perhaps you're trying desperately to avoid the trickle of political advertising that will soon flood our…
Kriseman high-speed ferry proposal needs one more nod to move forward
St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman has one puzzle piece left before he can start negotiating with contractor HMS on a possible ferry service between downtown St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa. Sometime in the coming weeks, he'll head to Tampa City Hall, where he'll ask City Council to set aside $350,000, one quarter of the amount…
Jane Lynch: The un-diva
She’s warm, funny, and – best of all – performing here on Saturday.
St. Pete Beach market by day, restaurant by night
Verducci’s Pizzeria and Trattoria owners have another new project planned for the beach.
Restaurant review: Tom+Chee-sy temple
In St. Petersburg, sit back, relax and tai chi… err, Tom+Chee.
On the Sauce: Slow-Cooker Mulled Wine (with video)
This week’s recipe is perfect for entertaining, and perfect for keeping you toasty.
Sh*t happened 1/13/16: Hillsborough backs sink pump, St. Pete traffic crackdown, Florida death penalty unconstitutional
Well, our nation's outgoing president gave his final Sate of the Union address last night. So what did you think? Oh, you didn't watch it? You were … what? What the hell is Growler Pong? Hillsborough County commissioners supported the highly controversial idea of pumping water from the Morris Bridge Sink into the Hillsborough River,…
Tonight in live music: Marco Benevento, Paul Sanchez, Mickey Avalon with Dirt Nasty
Three noteworthy shows are hitting Ybor City this Wed., Jan. 13.
Activists adorably call on legislature to consider environment, social justice as session begins
It was a frigid morning in the shadow of St. Pete City Hall as activists sought to call out Florida's legislative leaders for a similarly icy attitude toward things like home rule and economic opportunity. The event was one of several around the state orchestrated by the progressive group Awake the State in conjunction with…
Bonnaroo’s 15th anniversary lineup to be announced on Conan Jan. 19
America’s biggest camping-and-music fest will reveal its lineup on national TV next Tuesday.
Book review: One More Time by Marc Ganancias
An immersive tale of hip romance by Lakeland musician Ganancias feels real, relatable and worthwhile.
Do this: Cornel West comes to St. Pete
During a brief visit last year, renowned philosopher Dr. Cornel West commended local leaders on their efforts to preserve local history despite the ever-present threat of gentrification. He went on to deliver a rousing talk about the scourge of racism still alive and well in America in his signature provocative manner. On Wednesday, he comes…
Bob Mould announces new album, releases video for first single “Voices in My Head”
The alt-rock stalwart’s Patch The Sky drops March 25.
600 Block sees soft opening of The Lure
The Lure has opened with laid-back food, cocktails and billiards in downtown St. Pete.
R.I.P., David Bowie: A tribute to the late Thin White Duke, Ziggy Stardust, Goblin King, et. al.
David Bowie passed away at age 69 on January 10. Let’s reflect on him a bit, shall we? Playlist included.
Sh*t happened 1/12/16: Whitesboro emblem racist, Tampa pot decriminalization ongoing, Hugh Hefner lazy
So, yeah, yesterday was that day that made us all suspect 2016 was going to be as crap as 2015. But, hey, the sun went down, and it came up again on a fresh, newly minted day, and you know what? It just might be OK. (Probably not, but, you know, anything can happen.) Whitesboro…
Pick-it-yourself: New organic U-pick coming to Riverview
Riverview’s Florida Urban Organics to hold a grand opening for its first fully organic U-pick Saturday.
Tonight in live music: The New Mastersounds
The funky Leeds outfit hits the Skipperdome on this cool Tuesday night. Check out some videos now.
Weekly Tune-Up: Tunes for your week by David Bowie, Pete Yorn, RJD2 & more
A playlist of 15 tunes to launch you into the week. Spotify playlist included.
Grand Central’s Cage Brewing debuts in St. Pete
A soft opening for St. Pete’s newest brewery, Cage Brewing, took place Saturday.
The stars look very different today.
David Bowie dead at 69.
Sh*t happened 1/11/16: Winston nominated for Rookie of the Year, Lightning roar back, Florida Man blows it (of course)
"Land ho!" "Well, tell us laddie, what do you see? Could it be the legendary Paradise Island, where the water is sweet as honey and fruit grows from every tree?" "Well, let's see. It's … lemme look. Well, I can see … oh, shit. Never mind. It's just Monday." FRIDAY, JAN. 8: Jameis Winston was named…
Last chance to see Sounds of the Civil Rights Movement: The Power of Song
The music and community-oriented program stages its last performance tonight at Palladium Theater
This weekend in live music: Beebs and her Money Makers, The Ries Brothers, 1349 + more
A look at concerts happening this Sat.-Sun., Jan. 9-10
TV: One episode in, Downton Abbey‘s final season is bittersweet
Questions about the series’ denouement? We haz them! (Potential spoilers ahead.)
Update: Sierra Nevada reveals styles for collaboration 12-pack (with video)
As part of Beer Camp, 30 breweries have teamed up with Sierra Nevada on a mixed pack of beer.
Do This: Your Weekend, Ready to Go
Embrace the weekend.
Despite differences on Rays, Cuba, Tampa & St. Pete mayors show optimism for region
It was a packed house at Friday's Suncoast Tiger Bay forum at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. That's because the event featured Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, who offered a "State of the Bay Address" at the tail end of a particularly eventful week. The two are at odds on…
Kendrick Lamar performs a new song, talks video games, on Jimmy Fallon
The prolific mc drops the hair-raising “Untitled 2”
Weekend Platter: Noshing on foot, on the green & more
Grub at a local food truck rally or sip the night away with these four CL-approved weekend events.
New Rays deal might break stadium stalemate
New Year, new proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal with the City of St. Petersburg. Following speculation that a Rays deal was coming down the pike this week, Mayor Rick Kriseman and St. Petersburg City Council Chair Amy Foster announced a proposal that would allow the baseball team to explore potential stadium sites in Hillsborough…
Do This: Sebastian Coolidge pen-and-ink show
The famed St. Pete muralist scales down for an intimate show at the Blue Goose.
Sh*t happened 1/8/16: The internet reacts to Lovie, cocaine carseat
Happy Friday! OK, ready to stop having a happy Friday? Read on: OK, so after the Bucs announced the sacking of coach Lovie Smith late Wednesday night, people went batshit on social media — insert joke on the compatibility of professional football fans and social media here — including team members and other folks associated…
Tonight in live music: Marcia Ball, Nile, Manic Focus + more
A look at shows happening Fri., Jan. 8, plus a peek at the weekend ahead.
Event set to commemorate CASA’s Linda Osmundson
St. Pete continues to mourn the Jan. 4 passing of former Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) shelter director Linda Osmundson, who died of an undisclosed condition. Osmundson spent more than two-and-a-half decades at the helm of the nonprofit, which started out as a small battered women's shelter and under her watch grew into a facility…
The St. Pete Pier’s last days: Time-lapse video by Todd Bates
Four months of demolition in 1 minute and 41 seconds.
Rep. Rouson, Black Lives Matter call for cancellation of homophobe keynote at MLK day event
State Rep. Darryl Rouson, a St. Pete Democrat, has denounced the inclusion of a speaker known for inflammatory, homophobic remarks at an upcoming event that has for three decades celebrated diversity. So, too, has a coalition of Tampa Bay Area social justice advocacy groups, including the local Black Lives Matter chapter, Bay Area Dream Defenders,…
Poet’s Notebook: We’ll always have Paris
Il pleut dans mon coeur Comme il pleut sur la ville Quelle est cette langueur Qui pénétre mon coeur? The last time we were in Paris, we stayed at the Hotel Claude Bernard on rue des Ecoles: on one corner a café, La Petite Périgourdine, and on the other side the Sorbonne, with throngs of…
Do This: Sam Shepard’s True West at Tampa Rep
Jack Holloway and Dan Granke switch it up.
Killing Joke cancels 2016 U.S. tour
Another show bites the dust.
Lectores: An old tradition with a new twist at the University of Tampa
The lectores tradition continues as local writers read aloud.
Staying on track: How a St. Pete man turned his life around — and now hopes to help others with a device for finding lost kids
With any luck, 2016 will be a good year for Toron Larkins, a 38-year-old St. Petersburg man with a troubled past and a big dream. Larkins is an aspiring inventor who turned his life around after serving 18 months in prison in 2011 for selling, according to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office records, crack cocaine. He…
Kings of 7th Avenue — A Q&A with author Jonathan Marcantoni
Local author Jonathan Marcantoni on women, Tampa, and Latinos.
Survivors: Designer Michael Vollbracht rescues vintage fashions to help fight cancer
“Though Tattered and Torn…” on Jan. 14 raises money for St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital.
The Real Clash presents debut album Clash Wednesday this Saturday
The release party at Crowbar also features sets by Flat Land, Dynasty and Rahim Samad
Tonight in live music: Rock the Park, MDFL, France Camp redux
A breakdown of concerts happening Thurs., Jan. 7.
The inaugural Florida International Toy Piano Festival blurs the line between work and whimsy
The three-day fest features forums, showcases and concert events.
Five Courses: Daily bread at AJ’s & more
The latest in Tampa restaurant and bar news with AJ’s Press, District Tavern and others.
Gulfport Mayor gets challenger ahead of March election
March 15th is Florida's presidential preference primary, yes, but in the small Pinellas seaside town of Gulfport, residents will also be weighing in on whether incumbent Mayor Sam Henderson will hold on to his seat, or if restaurant owner Barbara Banno will take over. Henderson, who recently received a M.A. and tends bar at the…
Hillsborough Commission backs Tampa-St. Pete ferry, with conditions
For the second day in a row, St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman made a trip across Tampa Bay to pitch officials on that side of the bay on a $350,000 investment into a six-month high-speed ferry pilot project between downtown St. Pete and Tampa. And for the second day in a row, he was successful.…
The V Word: Attention, vegaholics
The booze website all vegan and vegetarian sippers should know about.
Restaurant review: Boca Bay is gaining its sea legs
In Gulfport, Boca Bay Grille’s casual offerings are pleasing, but service needs more attention.
If Germany had Welcomed Jewish Refugees
Everything old is (unintentionally) new again in this Jobsite production.
